GHPGVNTNLC Ven. Thích Trừng Sỹ
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE 14TH ANCESTRAL MEMORIAL COMMEMORATION & THE 35TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF BẢO QUANG TEMPLE IN SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA
The Day of Returning to the Source we share,
Grateful hearts for revered Teachers’ care.
Their guidance is so thoughtful, so true, so kind,
A refuge of beauty and peace we find.
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Indeed, one tree alone stands small,
Many together make mountains tall.
With kind intent our hearts unite,
Protect the Dharma, blessings shine bright.
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The Sangha blooms with human care,
Smiles of compassion everywhere.
The great assembly lends its hand,
The Triple Gem grows strong and grand.
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With grateful hearts we now repay,
Share merit, blessings on this day.
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This year, from September 26 to 28, 2025, the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of the United States held the 14th “Return to the Source” Day to solemnly commemorate the General Memorial ceremony of Ancestors, and at the same time celebrate the 35th founding Anniversary of Bảo Quang Temple in Santa Ana, California. The Head of the organizing committee is the Most Venerable Thích Thông Hải, the current Abbot of Bảo Quang Temple, who holds the legal responsibility for hosting the major event.
During these ceremonies, there were many monks and nuns coming from continents such as Australia, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Monks and nuns of different races, skin colors, and nationalities were together present and integrated into these great ceremonies in the spirit of cultivation practice, Dharma propagation, mutual assistance, mutual love, mutual teaching, mutual education, and mutual respect.
On September 26, 2025, at 2:00 PM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the Commemoration of General Memorial Ancestors – the 14th Returning to the Source Day took place in a solemn, grand, and majestic opening ceremony with the presence of the Venerable Monks and Nuns from across the continents.
In Australia, there are the Most Venerable Elder Thích Bảo Lạc, the Most Venerable Thích Bổn Điền, the Most Venerable Thích Tâm Minh, and the Most Venerable Thích Tâm Phương.
In Europe, there are the Most Venerable Elder Thích Như Điển, Senior Venerable Thích Quảng Đạo, and Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tấn.
In Canada, there are the Most Venerable Thích Bổn Đạt, the Most Venerable Thích Thường Nguyên, and the Most Venerable Thích Huệ Minh, who will serve as the Head of the organizing committee for the 15th Returning to the Source Day in 2027 at Cam Lồ Vương Temple, where he is the Abbot.
In the United States, there are the Most Venerable Elder Thích Phước Thuận, the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Trí, the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Siêu, the Most Venerable Thích Minh Tuyên, tje Most Venerable Thích Minh Dung, the Most Venerable Thích Thông Hải, the Most Venerable Thích Thông Đạt, the Most Venerable Thích Đồng Trí, the Most Venerable Thích Thiện Long, and the Most Venerable Nun Thích Minh Phước.
In Asia, Japan includes Senior Venerable Monk Thích Nhuận Ân, Senior Venerable Nun Thích Giới Bảo. In Vietnam includes Senior Venerable Thích Thường Tín, etc. Along with the Venerable monks and nuns, the Vietnamese Buddhist youth family in the United States, radio and television, reporters, photographers, online video recording, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
In this opening ceremony, the coordinator, Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tuệ, online Facebook photographer Võ Văn Tường. Inviting the bell for praying, Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Long. Reading the opening speech, the Most Venerable Thích Thông Hải. Delivering the welcoming speech, representatives from Australia, the Most Venerable Thích Bảo Lạc; from Germany, the Most Venerable Thích Như Điển; from Canada, the Most Venerable Thích Bổn Đạt; from the United States, the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Siêu, the Most Venerable Thích Minh Tuyên, and the Venerable Thích Phước Thuận.
On September 26, 2025, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the first seminar was held on the topic “The Journey of cultivation practice, Dharma propagation, and engaged Buddhism of Patriarch Thiện Hoa.”
The Presenter was the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Siêu. The chairpersons of the Dharma discussion: The Most Venerable Thích Như Điển and the Most Venerable Thích Đồng Trí. The Secretaries were Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Long and Senior Venerable Thích Chúc Đại. Witnessing the conference: the Most Venerable Elder Thích Bảo Lạc, the Most Venerable Thích Minh Tuyên, and the Most Venerable Thích Bổn Đạt.
On September 26, 2025, from 8:00 to 9:00 PM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the Venerable monks and nuns from across the Continents together elected the Most Venerable Elder Thích Nguyên Siêu as the current President for the term from September 26, 2025 to September 26, 2027. They alsso discussed which Buddhist temple in which country would have the sufficient conditions to host the 15th Commemoration of General Memorial Ancestors – Returning to the Source Day, which Venerable Ones would be the subject of discussion in the coming time, the meaning of the terms “RETURN TO THE SOURCE DAY, etc.
On September 27, 2025, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the second seminar was held on the topic “The journey of cultivation practice, Dharma propagation, and engaged Buddhism of the Most Venerable Elder Thích Thắng Hoan.”
The presenters were the Most Venerable Thích Bổn Đạt and Senior Venerable Thích Thiện Long. The presiding committee consisted of the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Siêu and the Most Venerable Thích Tâm Minh. The secretaries of the committee were Senior Venerable Thích Trừng Sỹ and Senior Venerable Thích Nhuận Bình. The witnesses of the Conference were the Most Venerable Elder Thích Bảo Lạc, the Most Venerable Thích Minh Tuyên, and the Most Venerable Thích Như Điển.
On September 27, 2025, from 4:00 to 5:30 PM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the third seminar was held on the topic “The Journey of cultivation practice, Dharma propagation, and engaged Buddhism of the Most Venerable Elder Thích Tâm Châu.”
Presenters: The Most Venerable Thích Tâm Minh and Senior Venerable Thích Chúc Đại. Presiding Committee: The Most Venerable Thích Bổn Đạt, the Most Venerable Thích Bổn Điềnn, and Senior Venerable Thích Hạnh Tấn. Secretaries of the Committee: Senior Venerable Thích Pháp Uyển and Senior Venerable Thích Đạo Tỉnh. Conference witnesses: The Most Venerable Elder Thích Bảo Lạc, the Most Venerable Thích Minh Tuyên, and the Most Venerable Thích Như Điển.
On September 27, 2025, from 8:00 to 9:00 PM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the topic “Life Philosophy based on the foundation of the Fourfold Great Gratitude” was lectured by the Most Venerable Thích Nguyên Siêu, the President of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of the United States, the Abbot of Phật Đà Temple in San Diego, California.
On September 28, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM: At Bảo Quang Temple, the Commemoration of the Patriarchs’ Memorial Ceremony – the 14th “Return to the Source” Day, and the 35th founding Anniversary Celebration of Bảo Quang Temple officially took place solemnly, dignifiedly, and majestically under the witnesses of the Dharma Masters, including the Venerable Elders from across the Continents.
In the United States, there is the Most Venerable Elder Thích Chơn Thành; in Australia, there is the Most Venerable Elder Thích Bảo Lạc; in Europe, Germany, there is the Most Venerable Elder Thích Như Điển; in Canada, there is the Most Venerable Elder Thích Bổn Đạt.
In this Closing Ceremony, there were approximately 1,000 attendees, including about 400 venerable monks and nuns and about 600 lay people. At the end of the grand Ceremony, the representative of the Unified Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in the United States, the Most Venerable Thích Thông Hải, the Head of the Organizing Committee, handed over the Circulating Alms Bowl to the Most Venerable Thích Huệ Minh, the Abbot of Cam Lộ Vương Temple, accepting the responsibility of organizing the 15th Returning to the Source Day in 2027 in Canada under the auspicious guidance and blessing of the Elder Monastic and lay Buddhist devotees from various continents with great joy and peace.
In the afternoon, there was the ceremony of Offering to the Wandering Souls and a musical performance of singing the celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Bảo Quang Temple. The reason of the information and images of the ceremonies were successfully and promptly conveyed is thanks to the radio and television broadcasters, journalists, photographers, live video recording, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
At the conclusion of the 3-day the three-day Commemoration of Patriarchs’ General Memorial Ceremony, held at Bảo Quang Temple in Santa Ana City, California in 2025, both the monastic and lay Buddhist devotees were filled with joy and happiness, united in the spirit of propagating the Dharma abroad. Indeed, the Day of Returning to the Source is a favorable opportunity for everyone to learn from and support one another in the spirit of education, solidarity, harmony, fostering love and compassion, building brotherhood and sisterhood, cultivating fellow Dharma practitioners, sharing experiences in propagating the Dharma and practicing the Dharma path abroad without discrimination of skin color, race, sect, etc.
The Day of Returning to the Source is also a good occasion for the children of the Buddha to meet each other to nurture and develop friendship and affection in the Dharma, whether in this country or another.
The Day of Returning to the Source is clearly understood as a day of gathering and being together to exchange and learn from the practice experiences of the Elders, and today we apply them to our daily lives appropriately in the countries where we live and practice the Dharma abroad. The Day of Returning to the Source also means a day for everyone to express deep gratitude and remembrance toward the ancestors.
When we have enough conditions to sit together on the Day of Returning to the Source, we share our hearts, exchange experiences, nurture, and develop the path of propagating the Dharma and benefiting living beings—for ourselves and for others right here and right now in the present life.
Respectfully, I extend my best wishes that all of you may abide in and permeate the True Dharma of the Buddha.
This year, the Day of Returning to the Source is truly bright,
We respectfully honor the Masters’ guiding light.
Spreading Dharma across the distant overseas,
In U.S., Europe, Australia, and Asia with ease.
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The vow to bring the bell to distant lands,
Sharing the way of “Breathing and smiling” by hand.
For Vietnamese and locals alike,
May the Buddha Dharma shine, vivid and bright.
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Respectfully wishing Your Excellencies long life,
May the true Dharma flourish, deep and bright.
Vietnamese worldwide bring the Buddha’s way,
Spreading Buddhist teachings across all lands and sites.
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Wishing everyone around the world,
May Buddha’s teachings fill your life.
Together we uphold the Triple Gem,
Bringing peace and joy to the body and mind.
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The Day of Returning to the Source concludes today,
Grateful to the Venerable Ones here we stay.
Always with hearts protecting the Triple Gem,
Doing good, avoiding harm, benefiting beings from East and West.
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Commemorating the Patriarchs’ general Memorial Ceremony here,
Monastic and lay Buddhists dwell in peace and cheer.
Wisdom grows as we practice with care,
The Noble Eightfold Path brings peace everywhere.
Namo Buddhaya. Namo Dharmaya. Namo Sanghaya.
